The United States is a country that has received many blessings, and once upon a time you could assume that Americans would come together to take advantage of them. But you can no...

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The shale gas revolution challenges the coal industry, renders new nuclear plants uneconomic and changes the economics for the renewable energy companies, which are now much further from viability...

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These problems are real, but not insurmountable. An exhaustive study from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology concluded, With 20,000 shale wells drilled in the last 10 years, the environmental record of shale-gas development is for the most part a good one. In other words, the inherent risks can be managed if there is a reasonable regulatory regime, and if the general public has a balanced and realistic sense of the costs and benefits.

This kind of balance is exactly what our political system doesnt deliver. So far, the Obama administration has done a good job of trying to promote fracking while investigating the downsides. But the general public seems to be largely uninterested in the breakthrough (even though it could have a major impact on the 21st-century economy). The discussion is dominated by vested interests and the extremes. Its becoming another weapon in the political wars, with Republicans swinging behind fracking and Democrats being pressured to come out against. Especially in the Northeast, the gas companies are demonized as Satan in corporate form.

A few weeks ago, I sat around with John Rowe, one of the most trusted people in the energy business, and listened to him talk enthusiastically about this windfall. He has no vested interest in this; indeed, his company might be hurt. But he knows how much shale gas could mean to America. It would be a crime if we squandered this blessing.

TBS the U.S. has vast gas reserves! But electricity is the most convenient and distributable power we have. Why not develop cleaner and more applicable nuclear power to provide - not only our own citizens - but the world community with abundant electrical power whose design forstalls any “weaponization” of its fuel ?

And why not use that “gas bonanza” to power motor vehicles in urban areas ? Or provide fertilizer to crop lands to create more food ? >PS

Its becoming another weapon in the political wars, with Republicans swinging behind fracking and Democrats being pressured to come out against. Especially in the Northeast, the gas companies are demonized as Satan in corporate form.

Yeah. Democrats have to be pressured to be against domestic fuel. </sarcasm>

"Why not develop cleaner and more applicable nuclear power to provide - not only our own citizens - but the world community with abundant electrical power whose design forstalls any weaponization of its fuel ?"

"And why not use that gas bonanza to power motor vehicles in urban areas ?

Actually, the first vehicles to make the change will probably be long-haul trucks. The problem is infrastructure. It's a lot easier to put natgas capacity in a "few" truckstops than to provide same for "urban areas".

“And why not use that gas bonanza to power motor vehicles in urban areas ?

However, it would be easier to switch all metro buses and school buses over to natural gas. Also, local delivery vehicles such as UPS and postal service trucks could be switched. These vehicles tend to operate from a central hub location where refueling could occur.

This is where the govt. can actually help by offering a tax credit to compensate for the cost to switching to a new fuel source.

Actually, the first vehicles to make the change will probably be long-haul trucks. The problem is infrastructure. It's a lot easier to put natgas capacity in a "few" truckstops than to provide same for "urban areas".

"However, it would be easier to switch all metro buses and school buses over to natural gas. Also, local delivery vehicles such as UPS and postal service trucks could be switched. These vehicles tend to operate from a central hub location where refueling could occur. This is where the govt. can actually help by offering a tax credit to compensate for the cost to switching to a new fuel source."

Hey I'm all in favor of natural gas, but they need to stand on their own. The NG delivery network of pipelines is already in place, which should be extremely helpful. No more tax credits for favorite industries.

In fact, we are SO addicted to tax credit crap that there are companies HOLDING BACK because they are waiting for a tax credit program they like..

17
posted on 11/07/2011 6:48:32 AM PST
by cookcounty
(2012 choice: It's the Tea Party or the Slumber Party.)

"Currently, LNG is about half the cost of diesel (on an energy-equivalent basis). Converting trucks to dual-fuel (LNG/diesel) is expensive, but with more demand we can expect that truck manufacturers will start producing trucks that come off the assembly line as dual-fuel."

Yup, and I think it was that posting of yours that prompted my comment here.

"However, it would be easier to switch all metro buses and school buses over to natural gas. Also, local delivery vehicles such as UPS and postal service trucks could be switched. These vehicles tend to operate from a central hub location where refueling could occur."

Certainly true. Any vehicle usage that fuels from a central store, and doesn't need re-filling away from that central store can be switched. VERY easily if the vehicle is gasoline..less so if diesel.

I was thinking more in terms of "general use" vehicles (including personal). There "are" alternatives. If you already have natgas piped to your home, there are "home fueling systems" that will "fill your tank" overnight by compressing that gas.

But I think the idea of having SEPARATE "filling stations" for CNG instead of adding natgas facility to existing "filling stations" is ridiculous.

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